17IJ

Tatenda Berverly Chikuni

From Zimbabwe

Feelings

When I first heard about orientation camp I had completely no interest in it what so ever. I didn’t care much to spend my first ten days of university going through a bunch of activities and learning things I probably wouldn't remember for the next four years. It’s now only been four days into the camp and I am ready to eat my words.

Today is only the fourth day of the orientation camp and already it’s not only been the most educative but the most entertaining induction experience of my life. Not only did I get to meet new people almost everyday but I also get to make friends because the sort environment we’re in supports that. Freshmen get to mix and socialise with people they would have never approached in a classroom situation. That’s what makes this camp so great because it gives you the opportunity to get to know and work with people even outside your course, people who without this camp you probably wouldn’t have come across or thought to mix with.

The First Class Meeting

Moreover not only is the opportunity to create new relationships so available but also the opportunity to get to know the school itself. In this way when you finally do start school you won’t have to wonder aimlessly around campus looking for your class or some other building. In addition you get to know what the school expects from you and this helps you stay in line.

With Friends

At the end of all this I believe that orientation camp brings people together. By spending everyday with the same people, working with them, siting with them and even doing martial arts with them, you end up knowing them and this reduces any tension that should exist in a class full of strangers for when classes do start. Not only has this camp taught me things that I will remember for the next four years and probably the rest of my life, it has given a new-found appreciation for the careful process of induction in any situation to avoid confusion and mistakes so as to settle down properly, comfortably and to ensure co-existence in a new environment.

译文

当我首次听到“新生训练营时”，我心里其实是拒绝的。我其实并不愿意将我大学生活的头十天投入到一些所谓的“活动”之中去获取一些我或许会记忆四年的“人生经验”。但是现在，就在这新生训练营的第四天，我已经准备收回我之前的说法了。

今天是新生训练营的第四天，这几天的经历对我来讲可以说是寓教于乐了。我在每天接触到新面孔的同时交了许多朋友，这是这个环境带给我们的裨益。新生们都进行了他们在高中时代和教室里难以实现的社交活动。同时我觉得，新生训练营的伟大之处在于，它寄予新生机会去接触、了解一些在课堂之外的人，并与他们合作，这是除却新生训练营新生们得不到的机会。

这个机遇是在为我们创造新的社交关系的同时让我们更多的了解这个学校。可以使我们在真正的开学时不至于在校园里跋涉以寻找自己的上课地点或者一些想去的地方。总结起来讲，训练营让我们明白学校的要求，教会我们自我的界限。我相信最终在新生训练营结束之后，我们会成为一个团结的集体。

通过我们之间的朝夕相处，同吃同住同练拳，我们最终会相互了解，同时减少由于我们本是陌生人而造成的班级成员相处之间的紧张。训练营所交给我的我会铭记四年乃至于一生，同时它为我新建立了一种审美价值便于任何处境中归纳事物以避免困惑或错误，使我在新环境中能舒适的安定下来，并保证自我在新环境中的生存。

翻译/李哲宇

编辑/秋颖